Hydraulic air-compressor.



No. 704,059. Patented July 8, I902.

. W. J. LINTON.

HYDRAULIC AIR COMPRESSOR.

(Application filed Feb. 21, 1900.) (No Model.) 3 Sheets-Sheet I.

m: mums PUENS ca. "(OTB-LEN No. 704,059. Patented July 8, I902.

W. J. L'INTON. HYDRAULIC AIR COMPRESSOR.

(Application flle d Feb. 21, 1900.)

3 Shah s-Sheet 3,

(No Model.)

o M 0 c n 5 0 w UNITED STATES PATENT GFFICE.

WILLIAM JOHN" LINTON, or WOODSTOCK, CANADA, ASSIGNOR o TIIE TAY- LOBHYDRAULIG IR COMPRESSING COMPANY,LIMITED, or MONTREAL, CANADA, ACORPORATION or CANADA. v

HYDRAULIC AIR-COMPRESSOR.

SIECIFIGATION formingpart of Letters Patent No. 704,059, dated July 8,1902.

' Application filed February 21, 1900. Serial No. 6,044 (No model.)

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, WILLIAM JOHN LINTON, of the townof Woodstock, in thecounty of Oxford and Province of Ontario, Dominion of Canada, haveinvented certain new and useful Improvements in Hydraulic AirCompressors; and I do hereby declare that the following is a full,clear, and exact description of the same.

My invention relates particularly to bydraulic air-compressors whereinthe air is conducted to a separating or compressing chamher by' adescending body of water; and it has for its object to provide acompressor the I 5 principal feature whereof will be that the workingthereof and the consequent compression of air will depend upon theamount of the compressedair consumed, and, speaking generally, toprovide a more efficientcom- 2o pressor than has been known heretofore.

The preferred embodiment of my invention consists of means forcontrolling the volume of water supplied to the stand-pipe, said meansbeing automatically actuated through the medium of the air undercompression in the separating-chamber when it varies from apredetermined normal pressure. I also provide means for controlling thedirection of the flow of the water relatively to the air-sup- 0 plyports, this latter means'being preferably adjustable to accommodatedifierent volumes of waterand, besides, being automatically adjusted tothe volume of Water as it is regulated by the above-mentioned means.

I have discovered that one of the principal reasons for not securing themaximum efficiency of compressors of the type to which my" inventionrelates is that the air-supply ports have not been of sufficient area,and in 40 order to correct this and increase the eftlciency of thecompressor I form the conductor for the descending body of water with aflared upper end formed to constitute in the wall of said upper end aseries of superimposed an- 5 nularair-chambers,eachcommunicatinginde--pendently with the atmosphere through controlled air-passages. Each ofthese annular chambers has a series of air-bars communicating therewithat their ends and formed with air-exits at and preferably extendingthroughout their under sides. The separating-chamber is preferablylocated at the lower end of ashaft which serves as a conductor for thewater in its return flow to the upper level. This chamber has a pair ofsubchambers 10- cated one above the other, with the lowermost above thelower end of the water-conductor and communicating with the uppersubchamber by a pipe extending from a point within the lower subchamberand above the lower end of said conductor upwardly to the interior ofthe upper subchamber. A second pipe leads from the interior of theuppermost subchamber to a storage-tank or to the point of consumption,and the lower ends of both subchambers communicate with the conductorsfor the water as it descends and ascends.

I have found my improved plant particularly useful where thewater-supply available is being utilized as a source of power to driveseveral other plan ts and where the unnecessary use of the water by anyone plant is to the disadvantage of the other plants.

For full comprehension, however, of my invention reference must be hadto the accompanying drawings, forming a part of this specification, inwhich like symbols indicate the same parts, and wherein- Figure 1 is aside elevation of a hydraulic air-compressor constructed according to myinvention and with the separating-chamber in vertical sectional View.Fig. 2 is a horizontal sectional view taken on line A B, Fig.l,andillustrating particularly the separatingchamber. Fig. 3 is anenlarged plan view of 8 the upper end of my improved compressor. Fig. 4is a vertical sectional view of the headpiece, taken on line C D, Fig.3. Fig. 5 is a detail view-illustrating the point of one of the air-barswith an annular air-chamb er.

a is the shaft, and b the stand-pipe. The upper end of stand-pipe bprojects a short distance above the floor d of 'the cylindricalWater-receiving chamber 6 to form a flange f, and this chamber a isconnected to the dam 5 y by a fiume g. A series of hollow annularsections 7t, preferably outwardly inclined and ofprogressively-increasing diameter from the lowermost upward to give aflared formation to the said upper end of the stand-pipe, are 1 00superimposed one with the other. The lower inner edge of each section his formed with a depending flange, the flange 'i of the lowermostsection being vertically arranged to fit into the flanged upper end f ofthe stand-pipe and the flange j of each of the superimposed sectionsbeing inclined to fit into the respeclive sections that support them. Aseries of horizontally-arranged bars 7c of inverted-V cross-section aresecured in correspondinglyshaped openings in the inner wall of each ofthese sections h and an air-supply pipe 1) communicating at its lowerend with the in ierior of said bars and leads therefrom upwardly and isclosed at its upper end. Each pipe has a damper w to control an openingin a lateral extension 200 thereof, near its upper end, the function ofthese dampers being to regulate the draft of air through the pipes 11,and each damper w is automatically operated by a pinion 140, formed inone therewith and rotated by a rack 14:1, to be presently described. Avertically movable cylindrical section m at times rests upon the top ofthe uppermost section it, where it is localized by anupwardly-projecting flange n and is of a height to have its upper edgeextend above I he highest Water-level attainable in the dam. Thiscylindrical section on constitutes a valve for controlling or cuttingoff completely the flow of water into the stand-pipe, and for actuatingthis valve to this purpose I secure a cylinder to a platep, mounted upongirders q, secured at their ends rigidly to the upper end of the wall ofthe water-receiving chamber e. A piston 1' is located in this cylinder0, and its piston-rod sis connected at its lower end to the valvularcylinder m by means of a series of girders t, connected rigidly at theirends to said cylinder m. The vertical rack 141, before mentioned, isrigidly secured to the cylindrical section m,adjacent to eachvalve-pinion 140,with which itintermeshes. The lower end of the interiorof this cylinder 0 is in comin unication througha pipe u with one,2,ofthe ports in the casing 3 of a three-way valve 4E,the other two ports5and 6 whereof communicate, respectively,with the atmosphere and with aT-pipe, one branch 7 whereof is connected to the pipe 8,1eading from theseparating-chamber, to be presently described, and the other branch 9 toone end of a horizontal cylinder .10. A piston 12 is located within thiscylin der and is connected by a piston-rod 13 to one end of a lever 14,the other end whereof is operatively connected to the stem of arotat'able plug-valve 15 for controlling the ports of said casing 3. Theouter end of the piston-rod 13 is also connected to an arm 16 of abell-crank lever, fulcrumed, as at 17, to a bracket 18, hung from theplate 19, the other arm 19 of said bell-crank lever being graduated inthe form of a beam and carrying an adjustable counterpoise 20.

The valvular cylindrical section on is guided in its vertical movementbya series of vertical rails 25, braced rigidly together at their upperends by a ring 26 of T cross-section, while a series ofantifriction-rollers 27,carried by the interior of said section m, runupon said rails 25. v

In order to deflect the water descending through the spaces between thelowermost series of bars 70 to as nearly as possible envelop the openunder side of said bars, I provide a deflector of novel construction andadapt it to be automatically actuated in conjunction with the valvularcylinder m to augment said Valvular cylinder in its control of thevolume of water to pass through the stand-pipe. Thisdeflector-controller consists of a ring 28, fitting within the upper endof the stand-pipe and having secured rigidly thereto a series ofhorizontally-arranged bars 29 of triangular cross-section with concaveupper sides. The upper edges of these bars 2U extend parallel to and arelocated between the bars 70. This deflector is supported by four rods30,each

levers 31 and the rods is effected by means of a sleeve 130, pivotallyconnected to said inner ends, which are forked. The upper ends of therods 30 are screw-threaded and passed through these sleeves and have 10-calizing-nuts 131 and jam-nuts 132 therein, these rods being pivotallyconnected at their ends, as at 134, to the ring 28. By this connectionthe rods and through themthe deflector can be adjusted to either almostcompletely close the spaces between the bars when the valvular section mis atits extreme height or to leave a space, as shown in Fig. 4. It isobvious that by means of the above construction the deflecting-bars 29will be automatically moved toward or away from the air-bars 7c, therebydiminishing or increasing the space for the passage of the descendingwater between said bars as the volume of water decreases or increasesand at the same time causing said water to as nearly as possible envelopthe open lower side of the lower series of said bars, and it is furtherobvious that the rise and fall of this valvular cylindrical section mwill, through the racks and pinions, automatically open and close thecontrolling-valves of the ail-supplying pipes.

The separating-chamber consists of a dome 35, having a truncated conicaltop 36. The opening in this conical top corresponds in diameter to thatof the shaft a and is of greater diameter than the stand-pipe b, and atubular section 37 is connected at its upper end to the edges of saidopening and projects downwardly into the chamber formed by said dome.Acylindrical section 38 of less diameter than the interior of thechamber, but of greater diameter than the said downwardlyprojectingtubular section, is supported by legs 39 within the chamber, saidcylindrical section 38 being of a height to haveits upper edge a shortdistance above the lower end of the tubular section 37, while the loweredge thereof is a short distance above the lower end of the stand-pipeb. This cylindrical section is divided by a horizontal diaphragm 40,which is secured at its periphery to the interior of the saidcylindrical section and has a central opening to allow the passagetherethrough of the stand-pipe which is connected thereto.

A short air-conducting pipe 41 leads from the space constituting asubchamber below the diaphragm 40 to the space constituting a secondsubchamber between the tubular section 37 and the interior of theconical top of the main chamber, and the main air-conducting pipe 8 isconnected to an opening in side of said tubular section and leads to astorage-tank, to a point of consumption, or elsewhere, as required.

The operation of my invention is as follows: It must first beascertained what working pressure is necessary to supply the powerrequired for the work to be done by the plant. It is obvious that anypower generated more than is necessary for the work to be done issuperfluous and waste energy. Consequently to limit the generating-powerof the plant to the work to be done will obviate this waste of energyand allow it to be utilized for other purposes. Let it be supposed thatanormal work ing pressure of ninety pounds is required. The counterpoise20 should then be moved along the beam 19 to the corresponding markthereon. The air-charged water descends the stand-pipe b and turns fromthe lower end thereof and ascends into the first subchamber, where themajor portion of the air, due to its natural buoyancy, will free itselffrom the water. The water then, with whatever air-globules may be stillconveyed thereby, rises into the second subchamber, where the water willbe completely freed of the airglobules and will then ascend the tubularsection 37 and the shaft and flow away. Meanwhile when sufficient airhas been supplied to the first subchamber to displace the water untilits surface within said side chamber is below the lower end of theair-pipe air will be discharged under compression into the secondsubchamber, from which it is delivered for consumption, as beforementioned,through pipe 8. As the pressure of air in the pipe 8, leadingfrom the separating-chamber, overcome, the weight of the valvularcylindrical section m, the piston r, and the intermediate connectionstherebetween such parts will be raised to the position shown in Fig. 4and the full volume of water allowed to descend. If, however, thepressure in pipe 8 exceeds ninety pounds, the counterpoise 20 will beovercome and the piston 12, and with it the lever 14, moved. This willcut the communication between the pipe 8 and the cylinder 0 andestablish a communication between said cylinder 0 and the exhaust-portof the three-way valve, thereby allowing the valvular cylindricalsectionm to fall and cut off the watersupply until normal pressurewithin the plant is restored, after which the "alve m will be againlifted, .as before-mentioned.

When the compressor is being constructed,

can be easily removed after operation has commenced.

It is obvious that for the purposes of repairs or for other reasons anyone of the airsupplying sections or several of them can be removedwithout disturbing the remainder.

I donot herein claim the system herein disclosed of establishing thedownward and upward or return flow of a column ofwater and separatingthe air contained therein from the upward or return portion of suchcolumn, as such system forms the subject-matter of an application filedby me on the 3d day of December, 1900, under N0. 38,5 l2; neither do Iherein broadly claim the means for regulating the power of compressionof my compressor to a predetermined normal nor the means forautomatically controlling the airsupply to said compressor, as they formthe subject-matter of an application filed by me on the 5th day ofDecember, 1900, under N0. 383,8 t9.

What I claim is as follows:

1. In a hydraulic air-compressor, a pair of subchambers located oneabove the other, a

vertical water-conduit communicating at its lower end with the lowersubchamber; a Water-passage leading from said lower to said uppersubchambers a water-conduit leading from the upper subchamber to theoverflow of the compressor; an air-pipe leading from the lower to theupper subchambers and an air-pipe leading from the upper subchamber tothe point of consumption.

2. In a hydraulic air-compressor, a pair of subchambers located oneabove the other; a vertical Water-conduit communicating at its lower endwith the lower subchamber at a point a short distance from the lower endthereof; a water-passage leading from said lower to said uppersubchamber; a water-conduit leading from the upper subchamber to theoverflow of the compressor; an air-pipe leading from the lower to theupper subcham her; and an air-pipe leading from the upper subchamber tothe point of consumption, substantially as described and for the purposeset forth.

3. In a hydraulic air-compressor, a pair of subchambers located oneabove the other; a

lower end with the lower subchamber at a point a short distance from thelower end thereof; a water-passage leading from a short distance abovethe level of the lower end of said vertical water-conduit in said lowersublchamber to a point above the lower end of the valvular cylindricalsection an is supported by any suitable means (not shown) that verticalwater-conduit communicating at itsv said uppersubchamber a water-conduitleading from a point in the upper subchamber slightly below the upperend of the said waterpassage to the overflow of the compressor; anair-pipe leading from the lower to the upper subchamber; and an air-pipeleading from the upper subchamber to the point of con:

sumption, substantially as described and for the purpose set forth.

4. ,In a hydraulic air-compressor, apair of subchambers located oneabove the other; a vertical water-conduit communicating at its lower endwith the lower subchamber at a point a short distance from the lower endthereof; a water-passage leading from said lower to said uppersubchamber; a water-conduit leading from the upper subchamber to theoverflow of the compressor; an air-pipe leading from a point in thelower subchamber intermediate the top thereof and the lower end of saidwater-passage to a point in the upper subchamber intermediate the topthereof, and the upper end of said water-passage; and an air-pipeleading from the upper end of the upper subchamber to the point ofconsumption, substantially as described and for the purpose set forth.

5. In a hydraulic air-compressor, apair of subchambers located one abovethe other; a vertical water-conduit communicating at its lower end withthe lower subchamber at a point a short distance from the lower endthereof; a water-passage leading from a short distance above the levelof the lower end of said vertical water-conduit in said lower subchamberto a point above the lower end of said uppersubchamber a water-conduitleading from a point in the upper subchamber slightly below the upperend of the said water-passage to the overflow of the compressor; anair-pipe leading from a point in the lower subchamber intermediate thetop thereof and the lower end of said water-passage to a point in theupper subchamber intermediate the top thereof and the upper end of saidwater-passage; and an air-pipe leading from the upper end of the uppersubchamber to the point of consumption, substantially as described andfor the purpose set forth.

6. A hydraulic air-compressing apparatus having a vertical stand-pipefor conducting the water downwardly a dome inclosing the lower end ofsaid stand-pipe and interiorly divided to form a pair of subchamberslocated one above and adjacent to the other said lower subchamber havingits lower end open and said upper subchamber having its upper end open;an air-pipe leading from the lower to the upper subchamber, a secondair-pipe leading from the upper subchamber to the point of consumption,and a water-conductor leadin g upwardly from the dome, substantially asdescribed and for the purpose set forth.

7. A hydraulic aimcompressing apparatus having a vertical stand-pipe forconducting the water downwardly, a dome inclosing the lower end of saidstand-pipe and interiorly diter-passage leading from said subchamber tothe space in the dome above said subchamber; a tubular section connectedat its upper end to the edge of the opening in said truncated top andextending downwardly into said dome to close proximity to saidsubchamber; an air-pipe leading from the subchamber to the space betweensaid tubular sectionand the top of the dome; a second airpipe leadingfrom the said space between the tubular section and the top of the dometo the point of consumption, and a water-conductor leading upwardly fromthe upper end of said tubular section, substantially as described andfor the purpose set forth.v

8. A hydraulic air-compressing apparatus having a vertical stand-pipefor conducting the water downwardly, a dome located at and inclosing thelower end of said stand-pipe and having a truncated conical top; averticallyarranged cylindrical section with open ends supported in saiddome above the lower end of said stand-pipe and of sufficiently lessdiameter than said dome to provide a vertical passage therebetween andsaid dome, a horizontal diaphragm dividing said cylindrical sectionmidway of its height; a tubular section connected at its upper end tothe edge of the opening in the top of the dome and extending downwardlya shortdistance below the upper edge of the cylindrical section, anair-pipe leading from a point a short distance above the lower end ofsaid cylindrical section upwardly tothe space between said tubularsection and the top of the dome; and a second air-pipe leading from saidspace tothe point of consumption, substantially as described and for thepurpose set forth.

9. The combination with a water-conductor, of an air-supplying bar andmeans for supplying air to said bar, said bar being arrangedtransversely of the said conductor and adapted to supply air throughoutone side thereof to the body of water traveling through said conductor.

10. In a hydraulic air-compressor of the class described, thecombination with the water-oonductor, of an air-supplying bar and meansfor supplying air to said bar, said bar being arranged transversely ofthe said conductor and adapted to supply air throughout one side thereofto the body of water traveling through said conductor to provide anairsupply of extended area.

11. In a hydraulic air-compressor of the class described, thecombination with the water-conductor, of an air-supplying bar, and avalve-controlled pipe for supplying air to said bar, said bar beingarranged transversely of the said conductor and adapted to supply airthroughout one side thereof to the body of water traveling through saidconductor to provide an air-supply of extended area.

12. In a hydraulic air-compressor of the class described, thecombination with the water-conductor of an air-supplying bar of Vcross-section and extending transversely of said conductor with its openside facing the exit end of said conductor, substantially as and for thepurpose set forth.

13. The combination with a water-conductor, of an air-supplyingsectionconsisting of a hollow annular part; a series of air-conducting barsextending transversely of and communicating at their ends with saidannular part, and having air-exits in their sides facing the directionof water-flow; and an air-conducting pipe connected to said annularpart.

14. In a hydraulic air-compressor of the class described, thecombination with the water-conductor of an air-supplying sectionconsisting of a hollow annular part resting upon the upper end of saidwater-conductor; a series of air-conducting bars extending transverselyof and communicating at their ends with said annular part, and havingair-exits in their under sides; and an air-conducting pipe communicatingwith the atmosphere at its upper end and connected to said annular partat its lower end, substantially as described and for the purpose setforth.

15. In a hydraulic air-compressor of the class described, thecombination with the water-conductor of an air-supplying sectionconsisting of a hollow annular part resting upon the upper end of saidwater-conductor; a series of air-conducting bars extending transverselyof and communicating at their ends with said annular part and havingair-exits in their under sides; an air-conducting pipe communicatingwith the, atmosphere at its upper end and connected to said annular partat its lower end and a damper for controlling said pipe, substantiallyas described and for the purpose set forth.

16. In a hydraulic aircompressor of the class described, the combinationwith the water-conductor of an air-supplying section consisting of ahollow annular part resting upon the upper end of said water-conductor;a series of air-conducting bars of V cross-section arranged with theiropen sides facing downwardly and extending transversely of andcommunicating at their ends with said annular part; and anair-conducting pipe communicating with the atmosphere at its upper endand connected to said annular part at its lower end, substantially asdescribed and for the purpose set forth.

17. In a hydraulic aircompressor of the class described, the combinationwith the water conductor of an air-supplying section consisting of ahollow annular part resting upon the upper end of said water-conductor;a series of air-conducting bars of V cross-section arranged with theiropen sides facing downwardly and extending transversely of andcommunicating at their ends with said annular parts; anair-conductingpipe communieating with the atmosphere at its upper end and connected tosaid annular part at its lower end and a damper for controlling saidpipe, substantially as described and for the purpose set forth.

18. In an air-compressor of the class described, the combination withthe stand-pipe, of a series of horizontally-arranged air-supplyingsections superimposed one upon the other,and an independentair-conducting pipe leading to each section, substantially as and forthe purpose set forth.

19. In an air-compressor of the class described, the combination withthe stand-pipe, of a series of horizontally-arranged air-supplyingsections superimposed one upon the other, an independent air-conductingpipe leading to each section, and a damper for controlling each pipe,substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

20. In an air-compressor of the class described, the combination withthe stand-pipe, of a series of horizontally-arranged air-supplyingsections superimposed one upon the other, each section consisting of ahollow au' nular part and a series of air-conducting bars extendingtransversely of and communicating attheir ends with said annular partand having air-exits in their under sides; and an independentair-conducting pipe leading to each section, substantially as and forthe purpose set forth.

21. In an air-compressor of the class described, the combination withthe stand-pipe,

of a series of horizontally-arrangedair-sup plying sections superimposedone upon the other, each section'consistingof ahollow annular part and aseries of air-conducting bars of V cross-section arranged with theiropen sides facing downward extending transversely of and communicatingat their ends with said annular part, and an independent 'airconductingpipeleading to each section, substantially as and for the purpose setforth.

22. In an air-compressor of the class described, the combination withthe stand-pipe of a series of horizontally-arranged air-supplyingsections superimposed one upon the other, each section consisting of ahollow'annular part and a series of air-conducting bars of Vcross-section arranged with their open sides facing downward extendingtransversely I of and communicating at their ends with said annularpart; an independent air-conducting pipe leading to each section, and adamper for controlling each pipe, substantially as and for the purposeset forth.

23. In, a hydraulic air-compressor comprising a descending body ofwater, aseries of airsupplying devices immersed at their lower ends insaid descending body of water and communicating at their upper ends withthe atmosphere, and means for deflecting said water to flow across andin close proximity to the air-egress ports of said devices, for thepurpose set forth.

24. In a hydraulic air-compressor comprising a descending body of water,a series of airsupplying devices immersed at their lower ends in saiddescending ,body of water and communicating at their upper ends with theatmosphere, and adjustable means for deflect ing said water as it-variesin volume to flow across and in close proximity to the air-egress portsof said devices,for the purpose set forth.

25. In a hydraulic air-compressor comprising a descending body of water,a series of air supplying devices immersed at their lower ends in saiddescending body of water and communicating at their upper ends with theatmosphere, means for automatically controlling the passage of airthrough the air-egress ports of said devices,for the purpose set forth.

26. In a hydraulic air-compressor comprisingadescending body of water, aseries of airbars of V cross-section arranged parallel to one anotherwith their open sides facing downwardly and in the same horizontalplane, means for supplying air to said bars, and means located betweenthe lower sides of said bars for deflecting the descending Water to flowacross and in close proximity to said open sides, substantially for thepurpose set forth.

27. In a hydraulic air-compressor comprising a descending body of water,a series of airbars of V cross-section arranged parallel to one anotherwith their open sides facing downwardly and in the same horizontalplane, means for supplying air to said bars, and vertically-adjustablemeans located between the lower sides of said bars for deflecting thedescendin g water to envelop said open sides, for the purpose set forth.

:38. In a hydraulic air-compressor comprisi n g a descending body ofwater, a series of airhars of V cross-section arranged parallel to on eanother with their open sides facing down wardly and in the samehorizontal plane, means for supplying air to said bars, and meanslocated between the lower sides of said bars for deflecting thedescending water to envelop said open sides, said deflecting meansconsisting of a ring, a series of bars triangular in cross-section withconcave upper sides and set rigidly at their ends in said ring, andmeans for supporting said ring, substantially as and for the purpose setforth.

29. In a hydraulic air-compressor comprising a descending body of water,a series of air-bars of V cross-section arranged parallel to one anotherwith their open sides facing downwardly and in the same horizontalplane, means for supplying air to said bars, and automaticallyVertically adjustable means located between the lower sides of said barsfor deflecting the descending Water to envelop said open sides, for thepurpose set forth.

30. In a hydraulic air-compressor comprising a descending body of water,a series of air-bars of V cross-section arranged parallel to one,another with their open sides facing downwardly and in the samehorizontal plane, means for supplying air tosaid bars, and means locatedbetween the lower sides of said bars for deflecting the descending waterto envelop said open sides, said deflecting means consisting of a ring,a series of bars triangular in cross-section with concave upper sidesand set rigidly at their ends in said ring, and vertically-adj ustablemeans forsupporting said ring, substantially as and for the purpose setforth.

' 31. In a hydraulic air-compressor comprising a descending body ofwater, a series of air-bars of V cross-section arranged parallel to oneanother with their open sides facing downwardly and in the samehorizontal plane, means for supplying air to said bars, and meanslocated between the lower sides of said bars for deflecting thedescending .water to envelop said open sides, said deflecting meansconsisting of a ring, a series of bars triangular in cross-section withconcave upper sides set rigidly at their ends in said ring, andvertically-adjustable rods for supporting said ring and means foradjusting said rods, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

32. In a hydraulic air-compressor comprising a descending body of water,a series of air-bars of V cross-section arranged parallel to one anotherwith their open sides facing downwardly and in the same horizontalplane, means for supplying air to said bars, and means located betweenthe lower sides of said bars for deflecting the descending water toenvelop said open sides, said deflecting means consisting of a ring, aseries of bars triangular in cross-section with concave upper sides andset rigidly at their ends in said ring, means for supporting said ring,and means for automatically vertically adjusting said supporting means,substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

33. In a hydraulic air-compressor comprising a descending body of water,a series of air-bars'of V cross-section arranged parallel to one anotherwith their open sides facing downwardly and in the same horizontalplane, means for supplying air to said bars, and means located betweenthe lower sides of said bars for deflecting the descending Water toenvelop said open sides, said deflecting means consisting of a ring, aseries of bars triangular in cross section concave upper sides and setrigidly at their ends in said ring, and vertically-adjustable rods forsupporting said ring and means for automatically adjusting said rods,substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

34:. In combination with the stand-pipe of a hydraulic air-compressor ofthe class described, a valvular cylindrical section of a diameter torest upon the top of said standpipe, and means for adjusting saidvalvular section to and from said stand-pipe, for the purpose set forth.

35. In combination with the stand-pipe of a hydraulic air-compressor ofthe class described, a valvular cylindrical section of a diameter torest upon the top of said standi pipe and means under control of the aircompressed by said compressor for automatically adjusting said valvularsection to and from said stand-pipe, substantially as and for thepurpose set forth.

36. In a hydraulic air-compressor, the combination with the stand-pipethereof and the pipe for conducting the compressed air therefrom, of avalvular cylindrical section of "a diameter to rest upon the top of saidstandpipe; a vertical cylinder; means for supporting said verticalcylinder above said annular section; a piston within said verticalcylinder; a piston-rod connected at its upper end to said piston and atits lower end tosaid valvularsection a three-way valve; a branch pipeconnecting the lower end of said vertical cylinder to one of the portsof said threeway valve; a second branch pipe connecting another of theports of said three-way valve to the said compressed-airconducting-pipe; a horizontal cylinder located adjacent to saidthree-way valve; a piston within said lastmentioned cylinder; apiston-rod connected at one end to said last-mentioned piston; abellcrank lever; means for supporting said bellcrank lever; one of thearms of said bellcrank lever being connected to the outer end of saidlast-mentioned piston-rod, the other arm of said bell-crank lever beingelongated and graduated in the form of a beam and having a counterpoisemovable longitudinally thereon; a lever connected rigidly at one end tothe valve-stem of said three-way valve and at its other end to the outerend of said last-mentioned piston-rod abranch pipe connecting saidsecond branch pipe to said 7

